We were thrilled to have District Governor Thor Davidson attend our December 11 Rotary meeting. His presentation was both informative and inspirational. He met with the Rotary Board prior to the meeting and we discussed the challenges and opportunities facing our Rotary Club and other Clubs. In his address to the Club members, District Governor Davidson discussed the new Rotary Action Plan which involves each Club developing a three year strategic plan that is updated each year. The goals of the strategic plan will be to Increase Impact, Expand our Reach, Enhance Participation and Engagement and further our Ability to Adapt. He also noted that the Wilmette Rotary Club has donated more than $1 million to the Rotary International Foundation over the history of the Club. He reminded us that the Rotary International Foundation is a 4 star rated charity which means it is in the top 1% of all charities. He indicated that offering different meeting times (like we do) is one way that other clubs have grown their membership. Finally he challenged us to all think about when we became a Rotarian -- not the date we joined, but when did we really feel a connection to Rotary.
Come and celebrate the holiday season by coming to our annual Holiday Party! Bring your friends and family. Our festive event will be at the Sheridan Shores Yacht Club in Gillson Park. Parking is available in the Yacht Club parking lot adjacent to the building, and anywhere along the inner drive and Michigan Avenue.
Beginning at 6 pm, you will enjoy a dinner of Italian specialties (not pizza) catered by Napolita in Wilmette. Wine, beer and soft drinks will be provided. At 7 pm, the New TrierSwing Choir will be coming to perform traditional holiday songs along with some original arrangements. Following their performance, we will have a Raffle drawing and then continue to mingle and have dessert. Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased by clicking PARTY. Please RSVP by Monday morning, December 16.
**Members who would like to help with set up, clean-up or bring a dessert, should sign up HERE. Hope to see you there!
We are kicking off our Holiday Gift Drive for Homeless in Chicago's West Side in coordination with The Sisters of Fraternite' Notre Dame who run the St. Roger Abbey French Organic Pa'tisserie in Wilmette. Their primary mission is to care for over 200 Homeless men and women in Chicago. We have partnered with them for over 4 years to gather needed items for their clients as winter approaches. We have put together an Amazon Gift Registry with the items they need. It is very easy to help. Click the link and go to the registry or search Wilmette Rotary 2024 Registry, click on an item or group of items and chose ship to Sister Valerie Marie directly and you are done. Here is the link directly to the list: GIFTS
Your receipt is your tax donation proof. Remember, do not ship it to you, select Sister Valerie Marie directly. They want to be able to hand out the needed items by December 20th. You can order sleeping bags, blankets, socks, hats and even personal items but please stick to the list. Feel free to share the link and post on social media. Anyone in America can order and gift to this cause.
Natural disasters seem to be never ending. Late last month, Shelterbox began providing assistance to over 1.7 million families that have been affected by Severe Tropical Storm Trami which slammed into the Bicol Region of the Philippines in late October. The Storm brought heavy rainfall that led to landslides and heavy flooding. This is similar to what Hurricane Milton did around Asheville, NC in early October, to which Shelterbox has sent a great deal of assistance.
As you consider your year end charitable giving, please consider a donation to Shelterbox to help those people whose lives have been upended by disasters such as Milton and Trami. A $100 donation can provide a Shelter Kit with tarpaulins, tools, and essentials to repair a home. A $50 donation can provide an emergency water filter. Whatever you can give personally, will be gratefully appreciated by these families in need during this holiday season. To donate, click SHELTER.
The deadline for ordering gift items has passed, however, you can still purchase Raffle Tickets and make Donations to our Holiday Fundraiser through December 18. Raffle prize drawing will be at the holiday party on Dec. 18.
Great Raffle Prizes this year include $500 cash, Goodman theater tickets for "The Color Purple", Lake Geneva Private Boat Tour, and Cubs tickets.
Click on www.rotarygifts.com to purchase raffle tickets and/or donate. Or use the QR code for easy access to our Holiday Fundraiser options.
Thank you to everyone who has participated so far in the fundraiser and to the many hands to have organized this critical part of what our Club does. We are especially grateful to the "elves" who braved the cold weather on Saturday for the pick up of the products we sold!
Our Rotary board has unanimously approved the membership application of Karl Behrend. This was announced at the Holiday Party last week and his formal induction will be done on January 22. Karl and his wife, Grace recently moved to Winnetka from New Jersey in August 2024 to be near their two children and grandkids. Karl has a background in finance and manufacturing. He is currently retired and rehabbing his Winnetka home, mostly by himself. Karl has already been active in several of our club's activities and we are pleased to have him as our newest member.
Our next Rotary gathering is a NOON meeting on Wednesday, March 26 at the Sheridan Shore Yacht Club.Then Lunch-packing followed by a club meeting on Tuesday, April 1 at St. Joseph Church at Lake and Ridge, Wilmette. On April 1, we will be joined by members of the Winnetka-Northfield Rotary which has committed to collaborate with us on this project.
Members and guests will be able to park in the Yacht Club parking lot behind the building. There are stairs leading up to the front entrance from the parking lot. There are also 2-3 parking spots in the curved driveway in front of the Yacht Club that can should be used for handicapped parking only.
"The Changing Status Quo of Children whose Parents Have Cancer"
ALL presentations will be made on ZOOM, a different topic on the first Monday of each month from 12:00 - 12:30. There is no registration required. Here is the Zoom Link to the presentation. Click MHSeries for more information.
The January focus for us in Rotary is Vocational Services Month. During this period, clubs highlight the importance of the business and professional life of each Rotarian. Special activities promote the vocational avenue of service.
Monthly Lunch-packing on April 1 - Our monthly service project of preparing lunch bags for Connections for the Homeless is at St. Joseph's Church, Lake and Ridge, Wilmette at 6pm. Enter through the east lower entrance. A Rotary Club meeting follows immediately after the sandwiches are made. 175 lunches were made on March 4. A good turnout included guests Kara and David Kosloskus, and Julie Treumann.
Connections for the Homeless
Our Club partners with Connections for the Homeless in a variety of ways including the monthly sandwich packing, the Hope Walk for the Homeless and some of their summer activities. There are several volunteer opportunities available to help Connections in their important work.
Some examples include: hosting a drive for winter clothing, hosting holiday celebrations, planting vegetables and herbs in community garden, cook and service meals, sort and stock donations. For further information contact Ashli Wade, Associate Director for Development at awade@connect2home.org
Trinity Wilmette 2025 Community Conversations— Welcoming the Stranger - a multi-week series that will explore the complex dynamics of immigration through diverse perspectives. Trinity United Methodist Church at 1024 Lake Avenue in Wilmette. 3:30 p.m. with presentations at 4 p.m. For more information and to register https://trinitywilmette.com/immigration/
Local Elections Now through April 1 - Vote for open positions on the Wilmette Village Board, Avoca School District 37 School Board, and Wilmette Park Board - Early voting has begun and election day is April 1. click here for the Wilmette Voter Guide from the League of Women Voters,
Blood Drives - The Wilmette Fire Department and the Winnetka Fire Department are sponsoring several upcoming blood drives with the goal of collecting 600 units of blood that can help to save 1,800 lives. Vitalant Bloodmobiles will be at various locations. Call 877-258-4825 or visit Vitalant.org for appointment. Use Code ORD0132D
May 2, July 16, November 12 - Wilmette - 1304 lake Avenue
Sept 12 - Winnetka - 428 Green Bay Rd
John Thomson Blood Drive and Memorial - John Thomson was best known as the New Trier HS Band Director for 25 years. He passed away recently and his family has set up a Blood Drive in his memory for March 28 from 9am-3pm at New Trier High School Northfield, Bldg C. For more information visit RedCrossBlood.org Memorial service will be March 29 in Kenilworth.
Wilmette Mental Health Fair - Saturday, April 5 at First Presbyterian Church, 600 9th St., Wilmette; 3pm-4pm. Topic "Navigating the Anxious Generation: How We Can Empower Our Kids". Listen to an expert panel of physicians and educators. Mingle with local mental help agencies and neighbors.
Club Information
Welcome!
Our Motto: Service Above Self
Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m.
Sheridan Shores Yacht Club
20 Harbor Drive
Wilmette, IL 60091 United States of America
In 2025, our Rotary Club meets monthly on the 1st Tuesday at 6pm at St Joseph Church, the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at Noon and the 3rd Wednesday at 7:30am at the Sheridan Shores Yacht Club in Gillson Park. Mailing address: PO Box 111, Wilmette, IL 60091
New member, Willam Shehan will tell us about No Salt Sailing: Sailing Adventure Therapy. They create a learning environment for wounded, disabled, andfor wounded, disabled, and transitioning Veterans and their families to learn to sail, explore the Great Lakes around Chicago, and develop maritime skills, all while promoting veteran well-being, both physical and mental.
Connections for the Homeless
